The NJ DEP has announced new regulations for the recreational and
commercial harvest of black sea bass, summer flounder, and weakfish
became effective in New Jersey on March 25, 2010. New Jersey's adoption
of the regulations was necessary to remain in compliance with the
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (ASMFC) Interstate Fishery
Management Plans (FMP) for these species.

The regulation changes
include a reduction in the recreational black sea bass season, a minor
change in the summer flounder recreational season and a recreational and
commercial possession limit reduction for weakfish.

The ASMFC established a coastwide black sea bass season of May
22 through September 12:

which is now in effect in New Jersey. The
recreational black sea bass possession limit and minimum size remain at
25 fish per day and 12.5 inches.

The same ASMFC Board approved the NJ Marine Fisheries Council recommendation to
change the New Jersey summer flounder recreational season to May 29
through September 6, which includes both Memorial Day and Labor Day.
The 2009 season was May 23 through September 4. The recreational
possession limit and minimum size remain at 6 fish per day and 18 inches.

The ASMFC's Weakfish Management Board (Board) implemented
stock-wide management measures to reduce the recreational and commercial
weakfish possession limit due to a determination that the Atlantic
Coast weakfish stock is currently depleted and at the lowest population
level since estimates have been recorded (1981-2008). The Board
implemented stock-wide management measures to promote stock rebuilding,
which result in a recreational possession limit of one (1) fish per
angler per day. The former New Jersey recreational possession limit
was six fish per angler per day.

The new commercial weakfish regulations reduce
the daily possession limit to 100 pounds during the open commercial season and
establish a minimum size of 13 inches for all gear types at all times. During
the closed commercial weakfish season, the possession limit has also been
reduced to100 pounds and may only be kept if it does not exceed 50 percent, by
weight, of the total weight of all species landed and sold.